The Kent FA are one of only five county associations to be awarded funding to start a new girls’ emerging talent centre.

Players can register their interest shortly, to attend trials in September. The Kent ETC will be aimed at girls playing in under-14s, 15s and 16s to provide additional elite coaching.

The new Kent ETC will operate for at least 30 weeks per season.

Funding has come from the Premier League’s latest domestic broadcast rights package, which the government signed off last year under the proviso that an additional £100 million must be invested over the next four years in many key areas across football, including the development of the women’s and girls’ game.

Five key areas will underpin the centre: Better accessibility, more inclusivity, reducing the impact of early selection, more focused investment and providing more appropriate challenges.

The ETC will see the number of young female players engaged in FA programmes across the county rise by the end of the 2023-24 season.

Darryl Haden, Kent FA’s chief exec, said: “As a county FA, we are committed to developing football at all levels of the game, and it is vital that girls across the county have more opportunities to progress and develop. It is exciting to be one of the first county FAs to be awarded a licence, and we cannot wait to move this forward in September.”

The Kent FA’s football development officer (women and girls) Rebecca Moore, said: “Having an Emerging Talent Centre in the county will fill a current lack of opportunities for talented young girls in Kent by providing future potential players with a local, high-quality training environment to supplement their current football journey. It is an exciting new opportunity

for girls in Kent to come together and experience elite-inspired training. The girls will enjoy access to increased playing time through a high-standard games programme across various formats, including futsal, small-sided games and full-format games. Players will have support to grow as individuals and

players, which they can apply at their football club or other footballing environments. There are many positives for the girls to get involved with this programme!”